It's A Wonderful Afterlife review

Death doesn’t become Gurinder Chadha…

Why you can trust 12DOVE Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about our reviews policy.

From the Bhangra-fied A-Team theme tune to the ropey English accent sported by cameoing T4 Welshman Steve Jones, the spirit of uneasy fusion dogs Gurinder (Bend It Like Beckham) Chadha’s latest. An Ealing farce served Indian style, it features a homicidal matriarch (Shabana Azmi) who offs anyone damaging pudgy daughter Goldy Notay’s chances of marriage, only to find their ghosts (including Goodness, Gracious Me’s Sanjeev Bhaskar) sticking around, Frighteners-style, to put things right. Problem is, the device really doesn’t work. Badly whited up and given only weight-related putdowns and korma puns to work with, the spooks overcrowd every scene like awkward panto extras, killing the laughs stone dead.

Freelance Writer

Matt Glasby is a freelance film and TV journalist. You can find his work on Total Film - in print and online - as well as at publications like the Radio Times, Channel 4, DVD REview, Flicks, GQ, Hotdog, Little White Lies, and SFX, among others. He is also the author of several novels, including The Book of Horror: The Anatomy of Fear in Film and Britpop Cinema: From Trainspotting To This Is England.

Latest in Rom Coms
Ryan Gosling in Crazy, Stupid, Love
The 32 greatest Ryan Gosling movie moments
10 Things I Hate About You
The 32 greatest '90s teen movies
Addicted to Love
The 33 greatest '90s rom-coms
Serendipity
The 32 greatest 2000s rom-coms
Anne Hathaway in Passengers
The 32 greatest Anne Hathaway movies
Renee Zellweger as Bridget in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
23 years on, Bridget Jones is still looking for love as new movie's trailer sees The White Lotus star join and Hugh Grant return to witty rom-com series
Latest in Reviews
Lenovo Legion Go S with FlyKnight gameplay on screen featuring player character holding bow and arrow with enemy ant in backdrop.
Lenovo Legion Go S Windows 11 review: “my heart aches for this mixed up handheld”
Talisman 5th Edition game components
Talisman 5th Edition review: "The characterful imperfections of the original game remain clear to see "
WWE 2K25
WWE 2K25 review: "A colossal package even if you never go anywhere near Virtual Currency"
Altered: Trial by Frost booster box and packs on a playmat
Altered: Trial by Frost review - "Satisfying enough to offer highly varied gameplay"
Three SteelSeries QcK Performance mouse pads on a wooden desk
I didn't expect to prefer a coarser mouse pad, but SteelSeries' new QcK Performance range has changed my mind
Boro and Alta sit on a bench together in Wanderstop
Wanderstop review: "Exalting the transformative power of tea"